Magic and Medicine from the Ozarks

Ozark Encyclopedia – B – Burn Charming

“A gentleman near Crane, Missouri, has enjoyed a great success in relieving the pain from superficial burns. He just blows gently upon the burned place, touches it with his finger tips, and whispers a little prayer. The prayer may be told to persons of the other sex, but never imparted to one of the same sex.” ~Randolph OMF 121

“Mrs. May Kennedy McCord, of Springfield, Missouri, knows how to ‘draw out fire’ from a burn. She learned it from Harry N. Force, an old-time druggist who spent many years in Cotter, Arkansas. You just mutter: ‘Two little angels come from Heaven, one brought fire and the other brought frost, go out fire and come in frost.’ As you say the last word you blow gently on the burn. This ‘sayin’ is supposed to be a great secret and must be learned from a member of the opposite sex.” ~Randolph OMF 122

“Mother blows on a child’s burn and says: “As a child of God we are not allowed to feel pain” –then the hurting will stop. You can’t work this on yourself or on anyone who knows what you are saying. You must not tell.” ~Parler FBA II 1628

“David Chapman of Searcy was telling of a man named Stracenor in Searcy who can talk to burns, make them stop burning. His little sister burnt herself on an iron and this man heard her crying and talked the burn out of it.” ~Parler FBA II 1629

“To make a burn stop burning, blow three hot breaths and then three cold breaths on the wound.” ~Parler FBA II 1630

“When someone gets a burn, blow on the burn and it will blow out the fire. First, though, you have to have faith or you can not do it. You can only tell three people of the opposite sex how to do it.” ~Parler FBA II 1632